I am not quite understand why you want these 2 machines. But anyway, There are few reasons that I will go for the nMP

A) I need thunderbolt. (Your 4,1 can get the USB 3.0 by just $20, plenty of graphic card that works in the 4,1 has HDMI. So only thunderbolt matters)

B) I love the nMP's form factor. (It seems this is not the fact, otherwise, you won't consider the 5,1)

C) I need a higher CPU single thread performance Mac. (Unless iMac does not fit your other needs, the iMac obviously do better in this area).

D) I need Apple care

For the 5,1

1) I want to upgrade to dual XEON, and I don't want to deal with de-lidded CPU. (This is the only reason I will go for the 5,1).

In fact, since you already own a 4,1. It will make much more sense to just flash your 4,1 to 5,1. Install a W3680, and whatever the GPU you want (my dual 7950's performance is very close to the dual D700, except I only have 3G VRAM per card. However, I can use both card for display, unlike the the nMP only one card to drive all 6 ports. Therefore, I have 6G VRAM for display, same as the D700).

$500 should be more than enough to get a W3680 + 2x 7950. Another $300 to get a 1T 850 Evo, plug that into the lower optical bay. It's will cost you less than $900, but you will get a much better machine than that 5,1.

h9826790's advice is spot on as far as I'm concerned. Flash your 4,1 to 5,1 and upgrade the CPU and graphics card. You can add USB 3.0 with a PCI card and add a SSD for speed (connected to a PCI card for full speed). You'll save a bunch of money and have something comparable to the 6,1.

I am not quite understand why you want these 2 machines. But anyway, There are few reasons that I will go for the nMP

A) I need thunderbolt. (Your 4,1 can get the USB 3.0 by just $20, plenty of graphic card that works in the 4,1 has HDMI. So only thunderbolt matters)

B) I love the nMP's form factor. (It seems this is not the fact, otherwise, you won't consider the 5,1)

C) I need a higher CPU single thread performance Mac. (Unless iMac does not fit your other needs, the iMac obviously do better in this area).

D) I need Apple care

For the 5,1

1) I want to upgrade to dual XEON, and I don't want to deal with de-lidded CPU. (This is the only reason I will go for the 5,1).

In fact, since you already own a 4,1. It will make much more sense to just flash your 4,1 to 5,1. Install a W3680, and whatever the GPU you want (my dual 7950's performance is very close to the dual D700, except I only have 3G VRAM per card. However, I can use both card for display, unlike the the nMP only one card to drive all 6 ports. Therefore, I have 6G VRAM for display, same as the D700).

$500 should be more than enough to get a W3680 + 2x 7950. Another $300 to get a 1T 850 Evo, plug that into the lower optical bay. It's will cost you less than $900, but you will get a much better machine than that 5,1.

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To be honest: you are spot on.
1) yes, form is not a factor.
2) the problem with me is...I'm not a guy who does tech stuff...like upgrading processors and external stuff. The only thing I could is install basic things like ssd and memory. I know there are instructions but I don't trust myself doing little more advance stuff.
3) I need video editing components...I'm open to any nls app.
Basically My limitation is what's making me look for alternative route.

h9826790's advice is spot on as far as I'm concerned. Flash your 4,1 to 5,1 and upgrade the CPU and graphics card. You can add USB 3.0 with a PCI card and add a SSD for speed (connected to a PCI card for full speed). You'll save a bunch of money and have something comparable to the 6,1.

Click to expand...

I agree...but I'm limited due to inability to do things hands on...I can do simple memory upgrade or hard drive...but much more than that.

The CPU / GPU upgrade is very straight forward, study the technician guide, watch few videos on YouTube, and then you are good to go.

It was my 1st time to install CPU / GPU on my 4,1 as well. No problem at all. Not much harder than do the LEGO right.

Anyway, my suggestion is to keep learning, none of us know how to use the Mac when we were born, but we learnt, we growth up, so now we can use it. Same as the hardware upgrade, we learn, and then we can do it. There is no secret, and we need practice during learning. As long as we do the preparation properly, do the upgrade with your common sense, the risk of damaging anything is very low. The cMP is a well designed, easy to upgrade machine (except the dual processor 4,1).

The CPU / GPU upgrade is very straight forward, study the technician guide, watch few videos on YouTube, and then you are good to go.

It was my 1st time to install CPU / GPU on my 4,1 as well. No problem at all. Not much harder than do the LEGO right.

Anyway, my suggestion is to keep learning, non of us know how to use the Mac when we were born, but we learnt, we growth up, so now we can use it. Same as the hardware upgrade, we learn, and then we can do it. There is no secret, and we need practice during learning. As long as we do the preparation properly, do the upgrade with your common sense, the risk of damaging anything is very low. The cMP is a well designed, easy to upgrade machine (except the dual processor 4,1).

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I'll reconsider the 2009 because you are right... It will save me money. Thank you. One thing Though..do people sell already customized/pre installed 4,1 to 5,1 chip on those motherboard like.

I can only recommend you to get those "pre upgraded machine" from trustable seller, which basically means… expensive.

eBay may have few cheap upgraded machine occasionally, but hard to tell if the machine really upgraded properly, especially if you are not familiar with the hardware. It may become a disaster for you if something goes wrong.

what will you be using a new machine for? If it's for regular computing, then the 2010 will be fine.
More intensive tasks? Well definitely the new one. Those D700s will be fantastic for graphics and video.

I have a 12 core 2010 and I also have a 12 core 2013 nMP (with D500s).

The newer one crushes the older one for tasks in Compressor and other intensive tasks.

I do LOVE the form factor. It's incredible what this thing can do considering it's a fraction of the size (yes, even adding a few peripherals to your desk area which are inside the 2010, still results in more desk space).

Have gotten used to needing peripherals although I only use a few.

Love the fact the new one consumes less power and is incredibly quiet.

I've been using the older 1 less for my work jobs.

So again, it depends on what you'll be doing.

Also, look at the refurb section. I saved huge $$$ on my 2013 when I bought it.

what will you be using a new machine for? If it's for regular computing, then the 2010 will be fine.
More intensive tasks? Well definitely the new one. Those D700s will be fantastic for graphics and video.

I have a 12 core 2010 and I also have a 12 core 2013 nMP (with D500s).

The newer one crushes the older one for tasks in Compressor and other intensive tasks.

I do LOVE the form factor. It's incredible what this thing can do considering it's a fraction of the size (yes, even adding a few peripherals to your desk area which are inside the 2010, still results in more desk space).

Have gotten used to needing peripherals although I only use a few.

Love the fact the new one consumes less power and is incredibly quiet.

I've been using the older 1 less for my work jobs.

So again, it depends on what you'll be doing.

Also, look at the refurb section. I saved huge $$$ on my 2013 when I bought it.

Good luck!
Keebler

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Mostly video editing. Although I like I fcpx... I was looking into avid or premiere pro.

I can only recommend you to get those "pre upgraded machine" from trustable seller, which basically means… expensive.

eBay may have few cheap upgraded machine occasionally, but hard to tell if the machine really upgraded properly, especially if you are not familiar with the hardware. It may become a disaster for you if something goes wrong.

Mostly video editing. Although I like I fcpx... I was looking into avid or premiere pro.

--- Post Merged, Feb 23, 2016 ---

Thanks for warning and I should be careful.

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I would definitely go for the nMP then. More expensive, but well worth it.

Editing in FCX is smooth as butter, but as I mentioned - if you're outputting using Compressor or Adobe's product (forget the name), the ability to use multiple cores for output results in fantastic speeds.

I would definitely go for the nMP then. More expensive, but well worth it.

Editing in FCX is smooth as butter, but as I mentioned - if you're outputting using Compressor or Adobe's product (forget the name), the ability to use multiple cores for output results in fantastic speeds.

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